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New closure allows camping mattress to be inflated in seconds

kickstarter.com

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Re: New closure allows camping mattress to be inflated in seconds

#111

Post by Coincoin »

Terretta wrote: post #107
jgrahamc wrote: post #58

The Kickstarter itself says: "You're supporting an entirely new type of technology that has the potential to inspire new ideas and future innovative products." No, you are not. Exploiting the pressure difference like this for inflation is not new by a long shot. Just pop down to REI: http://www.rei.com/product/829645/exped-schnozzel-pumpbag Edit: read rest of replies below for clarification.

> The Kickstarter itself says: "You're supporting an entirely new type of technology > No, you are not. Exploiting the pressure difference like this for inflation is not new by a long shot. Did you watch the REI video? It's certainly not giving the same impression. The REI video is cumbersome and tedious. You're basically netting air, then sealing it into a large bag, then smushing the bag to push the air into the ma…

However, I have the feeling you can inflate the REI one more because the pressure is higher. If I plan on sleeping on that thing overnight, I don't care about the added inconvenience, if it means it will be more comfortable.

I agree that for a nap in the park, the OP one is better and you look like less of a dork inflating it.

Re: New closure allows camping mattress to be inflated in seconds

#113

Post by jjoonathan »

CanSpice wrote: post #93
jjoonathan wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are also entirely passive self-inflating mattresses out there. They're filled with (solid-gas) foam that expands when you open the valve. Close the valve and it's ready to go. You store the energy for pumping when you deflate the mattress by rolling it back up. It's much easier to provide energy by sitting on something than by blowing into it :) I don't know the brand name, only that they were old and worn by t…

You're probably thinking of Therm-a-Rest mattresses. According to Wikipedia, they've been around since the early 1970s.

Yes! That's the brand name. I remember the logo!

Re: New closure allows camping mattress to be inflated in seconds

#114

Post by v13inc »

jgrahamc wrote: post #58

The Kickstarter itself says: "You're supporting an entirely new type of technology that has the potential to inspire new ideas and future innovative products." No, you are not. Exploiting the pressure difference like this for inflation is not new by a long shot. Just pop down to REI: http://www.rei.com/product/829645/exped-schnozzel-pumpbag Edit: read rest of replies below for clarification.

I think it is extremely misleading to summarize this technology as just "exploiting pressure differences for inflation". Technically isn't it impossible to inflate something without exploiting pressure differences?

Back to the OP -- this technology looks like a legitimate advance compared to all the valve technologies I have used previusly for camping. Inflating a mattress is a pretty small part of setting up a campsite, however, and I am not sure inflating a mattress is annoying enough to warrant a new purchase, for me at least.

I am really curious to see where they apply this technology in the future.

Re: New closure allows camping mattress to be inflated in seconds

#115

Post by v13inc »

v13inc wrote: post #114
jgrahamc wrote: post #58

The Kickstarter itself says: "You're supporting an entirely new type of technology that has the potential to inspire new ideas and future innovative products." No, you are not. Exploiting the pressure difference like this for inflation is not new by a long shot. Just pop down to REI: http://www.rei.com/product/829645/exped-schnozzel-pumpbag Edit: read rest of replies below for clarification.

I think it is extremely misleading to summarize this technology as just "exploiting pressure differences for inflation". Technically isn't it impossible to inflate something without exploiting pressure differences? Back to the OP -- this technology looks like a legitimate advance compared to all the valve technologies I have used previusly for camping. Inflating a mattress is a pretty small part of setting up a camps…

This comment from Zmetta [1] does a good job of explaining the physics without attempting to reduce them to an ad-hominem attack.

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5743500

Edit: typos

Re: New closure allows camping mattress to be inflated in seconds

#116

Post by dublinben »

Zikes wrote: post #69
corresation wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even if they did, applying for a patent doesn't indicate that you have a valid patent, nor does it provide any protection whatsoever for patents that came before.

The implication was that as part of the patent application process, one would normally seek out prior art.

As others have pointed out in this thread, existing products already use this mechanism. It would be very difficult to patent something that was very obviously invented already.

Re: New closure allows camping mattress to be inflated in seconds

#117

Post by kisielk »

jlgreco wrote: post #94
oftenwrong wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is because they are much bigger. In general, a larger fan can achieve the same CFM as a smaller fan, but at a lower RPM. Slower spin, quieter operation.

They are bigger, but most people aren't exactly using their ceiling space anyway so that isn't really the downside. The downside is the installation.

A lot of ceiling fans can easily be installed on to an existing light fixture by anyone who knows how to connect a few electrical wires together. I'd say the bigger downside is that it's fixed in one location.

Re: New closure allows camping mattress to be inflated in seconds

#118

Post by [deleted] »

jgrahamc wrote: post #58

The Kickstarter itself says: "You're supporting an entirely new type of technology that has the potential to inspire new ideas and future innovative products." No, you are not. Exploiting the pressure difference like this for inflation is not new by a long shot. Just pop down to REI: http://www.rei.com/product/829645/exped-schnozzel-pumpbag Edit: read rest of replies below for clarification.

[deleted]

Re: New closure allows camping mattress to be inflated in seconds

#119

Post by aneth4 »

jgrahamc wrote: post #58

The Kickstarter itself says: "You're supporting an entirely new type of technology that has the potential to inspire new ideas and future innovative products." No, you are not. Exploiting the pressure difference like this for inflation is not new by a long shot. Just pop down to REI: http://www.rei.com/product/829645/exped-schnozzel-pumpbag Edit: read rest of replies below for clarification.

Seems pretty new to me. The Schnozzel is not remotely the same product. I don't think they are claiming that effect they are exploiting is a new technology, rather integrating that directly into the nosel of an inflatable.

Re: New closure allows camping mattress to be inflated in seconds

#120

Post by pbateman »

Terretta wrote: post #107
jgrahamc wrote: post #58

The Kickstarter itself says: "You're supporting an entirely new type of technology that has the potential to inspire new ideas and future innovative products." No, you are not. Exploiting the pressure difference like this for inflation is not new by a long shot. Just pop down to REI: http://www.rei.com/product/829645/exped-schnozzel-pumpbag Edit: read rest of replies below for clarification.

> The Kickstarter itself says: "You're supporting an entirely new type of technology > No, you are not. Exploiting the pressure difference like this for inflation is not new by a long shot. Did you watch the REI video? It's certainly not giving the same impression. The REI video is cumbersome and tedious. You're basically netting air, then sealing it into a large bag, then smushing the bag to push the air into the ma…

I've got one of the schnozzle bags with a compatible mat. It is categorically not cumbersome, not tedious, weighs the same and is filled with down so it has an R-value[1] of 5.9 instead of 1 which is what really matters when you're using a sleeping mat in a tent on a cold night.

[1] The R-value is a measure of how insulating a mat is, higher is better.

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